BSM: "Diggin'" the Christmas Jammies

I promise this will be the last holiday photo I post...until the next holiday, of course :).  But I just couldn't resist this one.  I must have taken a dozen snaps of my boys in their new jammies on Christmas Eve, and wouldn't you know it...the best one is Exhibit A: Owen with his finger up his nose...on purpose, I might add.  In none of the other pics do they look so natural...I'm not sure what this says about my boys or me as a parent...let's leave that one alone for now, shall we?

Now for a question for all you BSMers: Does anyone have any good Photoshop for newbies books to recommend?  I finally upgraded my computer so I that I could install a better editing program, but now I find that I have NO IDEA what I am doing!  Layers????  Thanks in advance for the advice.

Snaps of Christmas

This is a few days late, but I wanted to share a few shots of our lovely Christmas Day.  After an early start and lots of gifts, we had a relaxing day and a wonderful meal (cooked by chef James, of course).  My dad is modeling the "bling" from the Christmas crackers we opened after dinner...

Theme Thursday: Family

As you can see, I did not get myself in the family photo for this week's theme; I used up that chance with last week's BSM!  However, I do love this picture: my dad and my two boys reading together.  My parents are both great readers, and my two love to hear them read stories.  Owen can hardly keep his eyes off the book; his finger is apparently helping him concentrate...

A White Christmas

My post title should more accurately read, "A Slushy, Sort-of-White Christmas Afternoon."  Nevertheless, it was fun while it lasted!

Theme Thursday: Window

Well, well, if this theme didn't just happen to coincide with my first psuedo-photo shoot (read last Friday's post if you're not up to date on this happening).  On a cold, wet day, I had nothing but window (and garage) light to shoot these two.  I used upstairs windows, downstairs windows, and the garage, which I realize isn't exactly a window.  However, it can be a great natural light studio.

Shooting a 15-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl was definitely a challenge.  Particularly since the young man announced, "I don't smile," at the outset.  Just what every photographer wants to hear.  Needless to say, I learned a lot.  

Fortunately, the mom was happy with the results (wipe sweat from brow), and I have my contribution for Stacy's very first week hosting Theme Thursday  -- Thanks Stacy! 

Zoolights BSM

Do you see what I see?  (It's clear I've been listening to too much Christmas music.)   Yes, it's a picture of my boys...with me in it!  This almost surpasses the virgin birth as a miracle.  I exaggerate just a tad, but I can count on one hand the number of photos I have of me and both the boys. 

To celebrate miracles of all kinds, I offer this shot for Best Shot Monday.  

Photo Shoot Me?

I am doing a "photo shoot" -- I use that term loosely -- for a co-worker of James tomorrow morning.  She had seen pics I had taken of the boys, and asked if I would shoot her kids (with a camera, of course).  I tried to emphasize that I am in NO WAY a PROFESSIONAL!  (Using caps in case anyone's a bit slow.)  I could not GUARANTEE any GOOD RESULTS.  She's coming anyway.  

As you may have guessed, I'm just a bit stressed about this.  Technically, I'm just doing a favor; however, I really want to do a good job.  This is complicated by the freezing weather and limited shooting locations.  Also complicating matters is that she has two kids: a 15 month old and a 15 YEAR old (again with the caps).  That should be NO PROBLEM.

Why the picture of Owen with this post?  I forced him to be my photographic slave...I mean, model...this morning to see if there is ANY GOOD LIGHT at the time of day they are coming tomorrow.  Not so much.  

Wish me luck...

Theme Thursday: Change

I had been wanting to take pictures of this orchard since we passed it on our way home from cutting our Christmas tree over Thanksgiving weekend.  Funny, but no one seemed interested in stopping our tree-laden car on a two-lane road in 40 degree weather while I got out to stand in the mud to take pictures of the orchard.  Nice family I have.

Anyway, I finally got my chance when I dragged Owen back there this week.  He sat in the car while I stood in the mud and took photos.  I thought I was going to have some beautiful afternoon sunlight; of course, the sun went behind an impenetrable cloud bank as soon as we got there.  I still had fun and got a few interesting shots.  

How does this relate to our "change" theme?  I had even more fun playing around with the photos once I got home.  It's so wonderful to be able to change the mood of a picture by playing with the exposure, temperature, etc.  Here's my series of CHANGE...

Waiting at the mailbox...

I have to admit that this first part of December is tough for me.  Why?  Because nobody sends their holiday cards early enough to satisfy my mailbox-stalking self.  Yes, I get my cards out early, and then...I wait....and wait...and wait.  What's that?  You're busy this time of year?  Whatever. Mail your cards so that I can "ooh and aah" over pictures of your children and smile at the things you did this year.  Don't send me a card without a picture and/or letter.  Either/or is fine, but I don't want a card with a tree on the front and your signature inside.  Yes, I will still hang it up, but I won't be satisfied.  

Hello, my name is Megan and I'm a Christmas card-aholic.  Please, feed my addiction.

Deck the Halls BSM

One of my favorite things about decorating for Christmas is getting out all the ornaments and taking an instant trip down memory lane. Sometimes it's a long trip. I have ornaments from my childhood that I received as gifts and also ones that I made. My kids think those are particularly funny. We also have more recent ornaments purchased while traveling and ones given to us and the kids. A new category has cropped up in the past few years: ornaments MY kids have made. Harrison has a couple of funny "gingerbread" men created at preschool and a baker's clay shark made at a birthday party. This year, we have a new addition: a wooden Christmas tree that Owen made at school, his first artistic contribution to the tree.

May we always have a tree full of memories.

Warmth

It's in the 40s, drizzly, and grey...and I can't seem to keep warm. Maybe picturing this scene will help...

Where's the Fire?

Harrison informed Owen today, in his best 7-year-old-know-it-all voice, that if something caught on fire, you'd need a "fire distintuisher."

I guess that's to distinguish it from all the other emergencies?

Storm Watch

We survived the big storm intact...our neighbor's tree did not. Fortunately, no damage done, except to the tree, of course, and the boys found a great opportunity to get REALLY dirty. They played in the pouring rain, poking at the tree roots and splashing in the gutter for almost an hour. The highlight was getting to watch the city guys chainsaw the tree and feed it into the chopper. How's that for free entertainment?

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Overheard in the living room:

"Owen! Stop sucking on Jesus! "

Now there's some tidings of great joy....

*disclaimer: this might have had something to do with the Playmobil Nativity set?

holiday cheer & BSM

I haven't really started my blog other than picking a name and typing it into the heading. It's been sitting this way for almost a week now, and I finally decided that if I waited until I was done tinkering with the various design elements, I'd never publish anything. So here I am. Thought I'd set the tone by posting a nice holiday greeting :)...and my Best Shot Monday!

p.s. I'm not actually new to BSM, just a new blog -- I usually post BSM from my Flickr account :).